Process of lubricating steam turbines



Patented Oct. 14, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 'EORG WILHELMBURKHARDT. 0F 'DD'SSELDORF-ON-THE-RHINE, GERMANY, .ASSIGNOR TO I. G.FARBENINDUSTRIE AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT, 0F FRANKFORT-A-MAIN, GER- MANYPROCESS OF iU'BRICATING STEAM TURBINES No Drawing. Application filedMarch 16, 1927, Serial No. 175,945, and in Germany October 13, 1928.

The invention relates to a process of lubrieating steam turbines. Itespecially consists in using as lubricants, in opposition to the currentopinions, oils capable of forming 5 stable emulsions with water.

Hitherto in steam turbines the use of oils not emulsifying with waterhas been expressly prescribed supposing that the formation of emulsionsin the turbine would give rise 10 to considerable damages in the engine.That proves correct only for unstable emulsions re-separat-ing easilyinto oil and water. By using, however, oils absorbing water in the formof difficultly separable water-in-oil 5 emulsions which are renderedstable bv the admixture with the oil of a neutral emulsifving agentconsisting of hydrophile high- -molecular alcohols the lubricatingefiect of the oil is not deteriorated but increased by 0 theabsorbedwater.

There mav be, for instance, employed as oils with a high emulsifyingpower for water those containing an admixture of high molecular alcoholse. g. alcohols of wool grease. Good results are obtained by using an oilmixture consisting of 97 parts of a refined mineral oil distillate (so.grav. 0,890, viscosity 23 Engrler at 50 C) and 3 parts of wool greasealcohols. But the invention is in no mhnner limited to thissnecial modeof performing it. other oils with or without addition of emulsifyingagents beino' likewise suitable. if thev are apt to form stable emul.sions of the above-mentioned qualities.

In order to cleanse and to use again such oils they are passed through ahis h speed centrii'uge. both water and impurities absorbed by the oilsuch as metallic particles beinn separated.

I claim:

A process of lubricating steam turbines which consists in using alubricating oil containing an admixture of high molecular al -c0hols ofwool grease.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

GEORG WILHELM BURKHARDT.

